Jump to content
Premed 101 Forums

Med Schools And Full Course Load Requirement


Recommended Posts

I have a fundamental question about course load.

Many medical schools require a full course load in order to look at your GPA for admissions, but I am having a hard time understanding what exactly a full course load is. For one, the definition of a full course load seems to vary. 

For example, I am interested in applying to the Schulich School of Medicine (UWO) in a couple of years, and their GPA admissions page says: 

"Applicants must meet the minimum GPA in each of the 2 best undergraduate years with a full course load of 5 full courses or equivalent with 30 credits or more, taken between September and April."

I am a Canadian currently attending Wayne State University, and WSU defines a full-course load as 15-18 credits per semester, which adds up to at least 30 credits from Sept-April. However, after completing my freshman year of study, I only took a total of 9 courses (5 first semester, 4 second semester) because I was always willing to take summer courses. This still added up to being 31 credits for my first academic year.

My question is: is it really about the NUMBER of courses you take for a full course load? Or is it more about the number of credit hours? Would 4 courses a semester not be considered a full course load despite the fact that my Fall + Winter credits adds up to being over 30?

Thank-you very much for the help! I am not sure if I should move forward with taking extra courses, or continue taking 4 courses each semester and making sure they add up to over 30 credits for the two semesters combined.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Schulich asked 10 courses 30 credits per school year (Sep. To Apr.) Very serious. I knew someone interviewed and waitlisted but the last year's GPA 3.6x didn't meet 3.7 GPA non-SOWMEN required and was removed from waitlist in June. This someone I knew email back that 3.6x GPA is from 11 courses 32 credits, if dropped the worst course, the 10 courses 29 credits will be 3.7x GPA. But Schulich insists 10 courses 30 credits. Since 10 courses 29 credits didn't cut it, I think 9 courses 30 credits probably can't cut it too. But you can email Schulich admissions, they reply within days for this type questions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a fundamental question about course load.

 

Many medical schools require a full course load in order to look at your GPA for admissions, but I am having a hard time understanding what exactly a full course load is. For one, the definition of a full course load seems to vary. 

 

For example, I am interested in applying to the Schulich School of Medicine (UWO) in a couple of years, and their GPA admissions page says: 

 

"Applicants must meet the minimum GPA in each of the 2 best undergraduate years with a full course load of 5 full courses or equivalent with 30 credits or more, taken between September and April."

 

I am a Canadian currently attending Wayne State University, and WSU defines a full-course load as 15-18 credits per semester, which adds up to at least 30 credits from Sept-April. However, after completing my freshman year of study, I only took a total of 9 courses (5 first semester, 4 second semester) because I was always willing to take summer courses. This still added up to being 31 credits for my first academic year.

 

My question is: is it really about the NUMBER of courses you take for a full course load? Or is it more about the number of credit hours? Would 4 courses a semester not be considered a full course load despite the fact that my Fall + Winter credits adds up to being over 30?

 

Thank-you very much for the help! I am not sure if I should move forward with taking extra courses, or continue taking 4 courses each semester and making sure they add up to over 30 credits for the two semesters combined.

 

For Western a full course load means that you get 5.0 credits in your normal academic school year(sept-april). This means 10 courses 

 

So no if you took 5 courses 1st semester and 4 courses 2nd semester that would not count as a full course load in the normal academic year. 

 

It doesn't include summer courses**

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...